EAST LANSING -- The Clinton Redskins took undefeated Unionville-Sebewaing to the wire in Friday's Division 3 semifinal game, but ultimately it was the Redskins' own gloves that would prove to be their undoing in a 7-5 defeat.

Despite falling behind 2-0 early, Clinton closed to within one run of the Patriots not once but twice, but the Redskins committed five errors that led to five USA runs.

The fatal inning for Clinton came in the sixth, when the Redskins made a throwing error on a play that would have ended the inning and kept the score at 3-1.

USA took advantage with an RBI single by Ally Hoppe on the next play, and another error on the same play scored Camille Mayhew to put the Patriots up 5-1.

The next batter, Stephanie Neuman hit another RBI single to give USA a 6-1 lead it wouldn't relinquish, and the Patriots tacked on another run in the top of the seventh on an RBI double by Jennifer Winchell after a Redskin error.

"USA hit our pitchers hard, and they forced us into some tough plays that we just couldn't make," Clinton coach Kim Phillip said. "There were a couple of easy plays that we didn't turn as well.

"Defensively it just wasn't our day. In the past we've been able to get by with a few errors by outscoring our opponents, but today we just came up a little short in that department."

Despite its defensive struggles, Clinton was able to battle back after both of its bad innings. After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, Redskin third baseman Kristin Forest hit an RBI double to cut USA's lead to one.

Then, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Clinton's Megan Nelson and Sarah Turner each hit a two-run home run to cut USA's lead to a 6-5 margin.

"(Those home runs) were just determination and adrenaline on Megan and Sarah's part," Phillip said. "Both of them have been so close so many times this year, and in our home run derbies in practice, they both have one bounce to the fence power on all of their hits.

"I knew we were going to fight the entire game, because we've done it all season. We knew we would stay calm and give them a run, no matter what, and we did."

Sophomore Meagan Burton took the loss for Clinton, going four innings and striking out three batters while giving up four hits.

Junior Megan Nelson pitched three relief innings for the Redskins, striking out three and giving up four hits.

"Meagan (Burton) did okay, but it didn't seem like she had her best stuff today, and we thought we could catch USA off-guard with a change of speed," Phillip said. "I thought Megan (Nelson) played well, we just didn't make the plays behind her."

Clinton finishes the season at 34-5, and 13-0 in the Tri-County Conference. The Redskins won the TCC title, and made a return trip to the semifinal after a one-year absence following back-to-back Division 3 state titles in 2011 and 2012.

"Our seniors knew where they wanted to be after winning state titles as freshmen and sophomores, and they were looking to do it again this year, "They knew it was their last chance, and they wanted to get as far as they could.

"Our senior class is graduating with 127 wins to 13 losses in their four years, and I think that's a pretty awesome accomplishment."